Who Will Feed China in the 21st Century? Income Growth and Food Demand and Supply in China

52 Pages Posted: 20 Apr 2016

See all articles by Emiko Fukase

Emiko Fukase

World Bank; World Bank - Development Research Group (DECRG)

Will J. Martin

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Date Written: June 1, 2014

Abstract

This paper uses resource-based cereal equivalent measures to explore the evolution of China's demand and supply for food. Although demand for food calories is probably close to its peak level in China, the ongoing dietary shift to animal-based foods, induced by income growth, is likely to impose considerable pressure on agricultural resources. Estimating the relationship between income growth and food demand with data from a wide range of countries, China's demand growth appears to have been broadly similar to the global trend. On the supply side, output of food depends strongly on the productivity growth associated with income growth and on the country's agricultural land endowment, with China appearing to be an out-performer. The analyses of income-consumption-production dynamics suggest that China's current income level falls in the range where consumption growth outstrips production growth, but that the gap is likely to begin to decline as China's population growth and dietary transition slow down. Continued agricultural productivity growth through further investment in research and development, and expansion in farm size and increased mechanization, as well as sustainable management of agricultural resources, are vital for ensuring that it is primarily China that will feed China in the 21st century.

Keywords: Food & Beverage Industry, Economic Theory & Research, Rural Development Knowledge & Information Systems, Livestock and Animal Husbandry, Regional Economic Development

Suggested Citation

Fukase, Emiko and Martin, William J., Who Will Feed China in the 21st Century? Income Growth and Food Demand and Supply in China (June 1, 2014). World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 6926, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2456049

Emiko Fukase (Contact Author)

World Bank ( email )

1818 H Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20433
United States

World Bank - Development Research Group (DECRG)

1818 H. Street, N.W.
MSN3-311
Washington, DC 20433
United States

William J. Martin

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) ( email )

1201 Eye St, NW,
Washington, DC 20005
United States

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